Not of This Ancient History

"What? You're staying? I won't allow it!"

The next morning, the sky was bright and clear, and everyone in Stone Village was delighted. They had gained three future guardian battle birds for nothing. Fourth Grandfather alone was in a thoroughly foul mood.

He stood at the village entrance and let out a long cry toward the heavens, his chest swelling with indignation.

"If I leave, what will happen to my little brother?"

"He's still so young. I can't stop worrying about him!"

Shi Zhao stood beside the charred willow tree, unmoved, her gaze utterly resolute.

After finally venturing deep into the Great Wilderness and finding Stone Village, how could she simply turn around and leave?

After all, she was already here...

"Eh?" Little One tilted his head, his large eyes blinking as he peeked out of the chief's courtyard nearby, then ducked back inside.

"What if staying here holds back your cultivation?" Fourth Grandfather asked again.

"I have reasons that leave me no choice but to stay. The truly strong all fight their way out of the Great Wilderness. Whatever I want, I can go and get myself. Besides, it's not as if I'm never leaving. I'll leave when the time comes," Shi Zhao explained, her gaze still firm.

Aside from looking after little Shi Hao, she was also laying plans for something of tremendous importance. With a great deity like the Willow Deity here as well, she had even less reason to leave.

She knew perfectly well that if she chose to leave, she would probably soon be sent to some Primordial Divine Mountain or the Stone Kingdom's imperial family for "further training."

But wherever she went, she would never be as free as she was in Stone Village, where she could remain unfettered while gaining even more!

Seeing how determined she was, Fourth Grandfather let out a long sigh.

"If anyone asks after you return, just say that the people my aunt sent came to take me away, and that I've already gone to the Mystic Domain to cultivate on the Immortal Mountain. That should shut a few mouths."

Shi Zhao was raising a banner out of thin air to shield herself, while also sparing Fourth Grandfather too much embarrassment after his return. After all, losing one of the clan's geniuses would inevitably bring criticism and punishment.

Fourth Grandfather was shocked. He knew Shi Ziling's wife had no ordinary background and very likely came from another great region, but he had never imagined she came from the Mystic Domain and was connected to the Immortal Mountain.

As a clan elder from a princely estate in the Stone Kingdom, he was not entirely ignorant of the other regions.

The Mystic Domain was a vast region of boundless territory, a blessed land that nurtured outstanding talents.

It was said that its mountains and rivers were far more magnificent than those of the Desolate Region, without any air of primitive wilderness. Cultivation there had reached an extremely high level, and powerful experts emerged in succession, enough even to look down upon the Desolate Region.

The Immortal Mountain was an even more mysterious ancient land within the Mystic Domain. Though it was said to have few members, it could contend with ancient great sects such as the Heaven Mending Sect and the Western Religion, whose influence spanned several regions. Its standing was transcendent, and its inherited lineage was terrifying beyond measure.

"Is she really connected to the Immortal Mountain?"

"She is, but the relationships involved are complicated. Don't say too much. If anyone wants confirmation, have them seek out the Thunder Clan's matriarch. My aunt saved her back then, and she once followed her."

Shi Zhao spoke with such certainty that Fourth Grandfather had no choice but to believe her.

"Are you two coming with me or staying?" he asked A Man and Qingfeng instead.

A Man hooked her arm through Shi Zhao's, while Qingfeng clung tightly to her other arm. The three of them were practically huddled into a single lump, leaving Fourth Grandfather shaking his head and sighing again.

A few days later, he had left behind almost everything he carried that could be spared, and had even ventured deep into the mountains and marshlands to hunt down quite a few powerful vicious beasts.

After bidding farewell to the three of them and little Shi Hao, he returned to the Stone Kingdom alone, traveling light. He even voluntarily severed his memories of the route to Stone Village.

They all knew very well that after this farewell, it would be many years before they could meet again...

"You two little fools. Staying with me in the Great Wilderness means you'll have plenty of hardships to endure." Shi Zhao laughingly scolded A Man and Qingfeng, though warmth filled her heart.

As for cultivation... honestly, there would be so many calamities and disasters in the future that ordinary people could hardly change anything, no matter how much they cultivated. Being a little stronger or weaker really made little difference.

Of course, she certainly wanted to change a few things!

Since she had come, she would make herself at home.

Shi Zhao changed into coarse hemp clothing that suited the Great Wilderness perfectly. Working with her own hands, she used a treasured artifact to slice boulders flat and built herself a stone house at the far end of the village, complete with a large courtyard.

The villagers were simple and sincere, and they all brought over household items they had made themselves. From tables, chairs, and stools to beds and bedding, everything was provided.

Little Shi Hao came running over every day, constantly trailing behind her like a little tail.

As time passed, little Shi Hao recalled more memories from his early childhood. He also discovered that whenever he stayed beside his big sister, he felt relaxed and comfortable.

Thanks to Fourth Grandfather's parting gifts, Stone Village received a great deal of game for free, all vicious beasts they normally struggled to handle, such as Kui Beasts, Flying Pythons, Dragon-Horned Elephants, Two-Headed Fire Rhinoceroses, and even mixed-blood Pixiu.

These kills were first presented to the sacrificial spirit. Although the Willow Deity accepted none of them, the ceremony still had to be observed. What mattered most was sincerity.

Shi Zhao followed the local customs and took part in the offering ceremony as well.

She knew that the Willow Deity was aware of everything within the village, and that her arrival was bound to draw the deity's attention. What she had not expected was for the Tattered Cloth deep within her sea of consciousness to stir as well.

Suddenly, a divine thought rang out in her mind.

"You are very unusual. Were you not standing right before me, I would think no such person as you existed at all. Do you not belong to this ancient history? No, that seems true, yet not quite..."

Shi Zhao's eyes widened, flashing with a bright light as she stared in shock at the charred willow tree before her. Even her primordial spirit, which had nearly solidified within her sea of consciousness, began trembling violently.

What exactly did that mean?

She could just about understand the part about not belonging to this ancient history, but why had it ended with something that seemed true, yet not quite? And the earlier words seemed more terrifying the more she thought about them.

She badly wanted to shout, Big sister, don't scare me like that!

The willow tree at the village entrance had been broken for many years. All that remained was a charred section of trunk more than ten meters in diameter, with just one willow branch, green enough to drip with color, swaying in the wind.

Just then, a mysterious power appeared. It was exceedingly strange, resembling the power generated when the ancient ancestors offered sacrifices to heaven, as recorded in the Bone Scripture. It spread outward like ripples.

Several ancient cauldrons passed down through the village resonated with it. The insects, fish, birds, beasts, mountains, rivers, sun, and moon depicted on their walls became a little clearer, flowing with a mysterious luster. An ancient, timeworn aura washed over everyone.

"We pay our respects to the Willow Deity!"

The villagers were frightened as well, their hearts filled with reverence. They had never expected the sacrificial spirit, which had barely reacted to anything for decades, to suddenly manifest its power. Many dropped to their knees, praying that the deity would protect Stone Village's peace.

Some of the elderly villagers trembled as they led the prayers, expressing their respect for the sacrificial spirit with devout hearts and sincere words.

Even A Man and Qingfeng bowed along with them. Since they lived in Stone Village, they too were under its protection.

The only person present who remained standing perfectly straight was Shi Zhao, because she had yet to recover from her initial shock.

"Big sister, is the Willow Deity talking to you?" Little Shi Hao asked, blinking his large eyes.

"Mm..." Shi Zhao nodded instinctively, then noticed that a whole crowd of people had fixed their eyes on her, giving her quite a fright.

The chief, Shi Yunfeng, had an even more startling gleam in his eyes. He immediately swept his hand through the air and declared, "Little Zhao, the village has decided. From now on, you'll be the one serving the Willow Deity!"

"..."